Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Winter Light Blu-ray Movie Review

An exploration of faith by Bergman

A masterpiece of Swedish cinema, Winter Light is an essential exploration of faith by the brilliant Ingmar Bergman (Fanny and Alexander, The Magician). Produced by Allan Ekelund (Smiles of a Summer Night, Summer Interlude), the film is one of the most personal efforts by its filmmaker. Bergman, who was raised as a devout Lutheran Christian from childhood, explores spirituality throughout the entire story.

Pastor Thomas Ericsson (Gunnar Björnstrand) is struggling with his faith. The congregation attendance is dwindling and Thomas sees too much ill in the world that surrounds him (and he himself has fear of his own: fear of China and fear of nuclear weapons capable of mass destruction). Seeing the effects of chaos in society at large, Thomas finds himself in an existential crisis. Romantically involved with the atheist Märta Lundberg (Ingrid Thulin), Thomas struggles with his role as a pastor and his faith in God. The silence of God lingers on his mind.

Bergman grew up with a Lutheran pastor as his father and the religious upbringing plays a role in his questions on faith in Winter Light. Having grown up in a Lutheran congregation myself, the role of spirituality in the film is a compelling one which I could relate to. I could see myself within the Lutheran congregation (even from Sweden to Texas state, these similarities in worship were obvious). Spirituality is an important theme of Winter Light without necessarily providing answers for a audience. The film is contemplative and it will leave viewers to ponder its own meaning.

Explorations of Faith

One of the interesting elements of the production is the way in which the filmmaking relies on silence for storytelling rather than sound. Unlike most films, Winter Light has almost no music at play in the storytelling. There are sequences which do utilize organ music (when the setting is the Church) but there is actually no score or selections of classical music to accompany the overall trajectory of the filmmaking. An interesting and compelling choice by Bergman which may have been to reflect the spiritual silence the lead character struggles with accepting.

Winter Light is a remarkable cinematographic achievement. Once again reuniting Bergman with one of his greatest collaborators, cinematographer Sven Nykvist (The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Fanny and Alexander), the evocative imagery of the production is one of the key reasons to see this film. Its breathtaking how beautiful each frame in the film is and how mesmerizing the images are in casting a spell.

The serene lighting of the outdoor landscapes and the meticulous framing of the Church contribute significantly to the tone and effectiveness of the direction. These elemental visual cues aid the production design by P.A. Lundgren (The Seventh Seal, Summer with Monika) in forming a world which is realistic and surrealist at the same time. Winter Light is one of the Bergman's most personal storytelling explorations.

As a writer-director, Bergman has complete control over the trajectory of his cinematic art. Working closely alongside his editor Ulla Ryghe (Through a Glass Darkly, Hour of the Wolf), Bergman never misses a single beat while forming a compelling and singular experience in cinema. Contemplative, complex, and intelligent in its spiritual explorations, Winter Light is a true masterpiece. Don't miss it.

Winter Light Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Criterion Collection presents Winter Light with an impressive 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original 1.37:1 full frame aspect ratio. The visually magnificent film has received a beautiful 2K digital restoration. The lush black-and-white cinematography is enchanting to see unfold. There is a sort of hypnotic and surrealist element to the visuals that is perfectly represented with the presentation. Criterion has once again done a terrific job behind-the-scenes and the restoration team removed countless instances of dirt, debris, and scratches to the print. The end result is impressive and nearly immaculate. A beautiful scan.

Winter Light Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Winter Light has received a lossless uncompressed PCM 24 bit mono track. The audio is impressive with exceptional dialogue reproduction and overall clarity. There are no problems with hiss, crackle, and other audio-detriments sometimes found on films of this age. The track sounds exceptionally clear and with outstanding detail.

An optional (though by no means recommended) English dubbed version is also provided.

Winter Light Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Ingmar Bergman Introduction (SD, 3:40) features the auteur filmmaker and Swedish journalist Marie Nyreröd as the pair discuss Winter Light circa 2003.

Exploring the Film (SD, 10:13) is a fascinating interview with Bergman biographer Peter Cowie about Winter Light, the significance of the film in the context of the Bergman canon, and the outstanding performance by Gunnar Bjornstrand. Cowie also discusses the significance of the highlighted music by Stravinsky, the religious element of the film, and the Lutheran backdrop of the story. This is an essential interview for its engaging insights into the production.

Ingmar Bergman Makes A Movie (SD, 2:27:26) is an extraordinary feature-length documentary from director Vilgot Sjoman (I Am Curious – Yellow) which was produced on 16mm film. The documentary covers the behind-the-scenes production of Winter Light in detail. The documentary has an enormous amount of behind the scenes footage showcasing Bergman on set.

The film also contains interviews with Bergman himself and cast/crew members. Exploring a variety of components about the production, Sjoman presents a surprisingly intimate look at the development of Winter Light. There are numerous clips of Bergman discussing his approach to filmmaking (from screenwriting to editing). Anyone who is a fan of the filmmaker will be interested to see the documentary given it's exceptional access to the director himself. There is much to learn.

Winter Light Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A remarkable achievement, Winter Light is an example of Bergman at the top of his craft. The filmmaker is one of the most gifted and important artists in cinema history for a reason. The outstanding level of craftsmanship on display with this film is to be commended: a masterpiece. Criterion has crafted a remarkable release with a terrific presentation and hours of absorbing supplements (including a must-see feature-length documentary: Ingmar Bergman Makes a Movie). Highly recommended.